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(No Model.) 2'Sheets-S`heet 1. J. B. MURPHY, Deod.

M. J. MURPHY, Adminstratx.

GUT-OUT.

No. 46a-,101. Patented Peb. 2, 1892.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. B. MURPHY. Deod.

M. J. MURPHY, Administratrix.

GUT-OUT.

g No. 468,101. Patented Feb. 2, 1892.

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` i UNITED STATESx APATENT OFFICE.

TRIX'CF SAID JOHN B.

MURPHY, DECEASYED.

CUT-our.y

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,101) dated February 2, 1892. Application led June 14, 1890. Serial No. 355,514 (No model.)

.T all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. MURPHY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of'Haniilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Breaking the Electrical Current or Currents when the Latter Become of a Greater Intensity than Desired, of which the followio ing is a specification.

The several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use, conjointly or otherwise, will be apparent from the following description and claims.

l In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, and to which reference is hereby made,Figure lis a side eleval.tion of mechanism for breaking the circuit, illustrating certain features of myinvention'.

zo Fig. 2 is a side elevation of mechanism illustrating other features of myinvention. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of mechanism illustrating other features of my invention. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of certain features of my 2 5 invention for graduating the resistance offered to the breaking of the current and also for measuring the intensity of said current. Fig. 5 illustrates an arrangement of the parts of my invention whereby the current may be 3o broken at that side of the magnet which is farthest from the exchange.v Fig. 6 is an elevation illustrating one description of mechanism for recording the force of the electric current. Fig. 7 is an elevation showing an- 3 5 other description of mechanism for recording the force of the electric current. In Figs. l, 2, 3, 6, and 7 the foundation is broken away at and in the'neighborhood of the armaturerod B in order to show a slot in the founda- 4o tion. Fig. S is a side elevation illustrating, upon an enlarged scale, one novel form 'of spring-contact employed in connection with mechanism for breaking the current. Fig. 9 indicates a spring-incline employed both as a means for iicreasing the resistance to the breaking of the current and also for ascertaining the power of the current. Fig. 10 is a view of the bottom of the foundation or supporting piece shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, 4., 5, G.

5o and7 and showing a mode in which electrical contact is made for ringing a bell for notifying the operator when the electric current is so great as-to cut off the communication with the exchange or other point where the electrical current is legitimately operated and is diverted to the ground or other desired locality or object. Fig. 1l is a section taken at the planev of the dotted line @c of Fig. 1 and showing that face of the section which faces toward the top of said figure. This View 6o shows in plan the preferred form of springlatch for holding the armature in position after it has been drawn to the magnet. Fig. l2 is a vertical central longitudinal section of a fusible protector of the desired description, illustrating one feature of my invention, the contact-wire passing through said fusible protector being shown by solid lines. The magnet is to be wound with Wire of a suitable size. It is provided with a core A. 7o

The magnet is supported in any preferred manner. One mode of supporting it is shown in the accompanying figures and consists of the vertical standard A2, having a foot A3 at right angles to the standard, the said foot bolted, as shown, or otherwise secured at A1L to the foundation or basal support K. To this support the end of the electro-magnet', preferably the end of the core, as shown, is bolted at A5 to the vertical supporting-stand- 8o ard A2. Opposite the front end of the core A of the magnet and at a suitable distance therefrom is an armature B. This armature is pivotally supported.

In Figs. l, 2, 3, (l, and 7 the armature is piv- 85 oted as follows: A rod B or extension of the armature B supports the latter. Lower down at or near the base of the foundation K a pivot B2 at right angles to the vertical rod B and rigidly connected thereto rests in a jour- 9o nal or pivot bearing B3. In Fig. l the rod B extends below the pivot B3 and is rigidly at'- taehed to a rod B4. This rod B4t is in turn connected to the block of non-conducting material B5. The latter is in turn connected to 9 5 the contact-block B6. To this contact-block is att-ached a wire B7. This wire B7 conducts the electrical current from the line-wire B7 to the street or other source of electrical supply. There is also connected to this contact-block roo a rod or piece B8, which connects the contact block B with the contact-block B9. Opposite to this contact-block B9 and at a short` distance therefrom is another contact-block B10, connected to the wire B11, which latter connects with the ground B12. In contact with the block BU is the free end of a spring C. The plate C may be by gravity and by elastic propulsion, or either, impelled downward. I prefer to use elastic propulsion, and I prefer to make the spring and plate C in one, as hereinafter described. The piece or plate C is made of elastic or any spring metal, and its rear end is attached to the supportingblock C5 in a manner now to be described. The spring C consists of the flat end portion C in contact with the adjacent iiat side of the contact-block BG and of the portion C2, which terminates in the curved portion C3, which passes round and is rigidly connected to a stationary bar or support C4. When the free end CG lies upon the contact-block B, the

elastic spring is strained, so that the spring C presses hard down upon the contact-block B. lVhen the block B6 is slid horizontally away from the spring, as soon as the said block is altogether removed from said spring the free end C will drop down into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. S. This change in position of the spring C insures an j absolute breaking of the contact between the 1 contact-block B6 and the block C5, to which the spring is permanently attached. When the spring C leaves the block B, its elasticity causes it to spring away from the block B, and thus quickly and rapidly removes itself so far out of contact with said block B that l the current cannot be induced to leap orj ump from block B6 to the spring C. The block C5 is adjustable upon the rod or plate CG, and in Fig. 8. erture in the block C5.

screw C7 is provided, which is screwed through the lower side of the block C5 and bears up against the under side of the plate CG.

The object of making the block C5 adjustable upon the plate or rod CU'is to regulate the distance that the free end C of the spring shall lap over o the contact-block B6, where the spring lies upon the block BG fora longer distance, as shown in Fig. 8, and the withdrawal of the block BG will require a longer movement of the block BG to separate it out of contact with the plate C6, where, by the backward adjustment of the block BG- on the plate C6, only a part of the end C of the spring extends part wayon the block C5. To that end ot' the plate C6 which is opposite to where the adjustable block C5 is connected there is attached one end of a wire D. The other end of this wire is connected to one of the wires of the magnet A. The other end of the wire of the magnet A is attached-to the upper rod E, the upper rod E constituting an extension of the armature B. To the upper end of this rod E is secured the contact-block C5. Upon the hat side of this block rests the free end of the spring C, such as has been already described, and shown in Fig. S. The fixed end of this spring is connected to the contact-block Ci", as already described, the block C5 being adjustable upon the plate or rod CG and fixed in the desired position upon said rod or plate C by the set-screw O7, as hereinbefore described. That end of the rod or plate Cwhich is opposite to where the rod C5 is connected to the wire F extends to and is connected with the exchange. The enlarged end of the tapering spring H, such as shown in Fig. 9, is fixed to the block or piece of nonconducting material Il. Upon the upper side of this bears the foot or flanged end I of the index-finger I. That end of the indexiinger I which is opposite to where the fiange I is located is connected to the upper portion of the rod E of the armature. The u pper side of the spring II is graduated into divisions, each bearing a suitable number.

On the wire F between the rod or plate C6 and the exchange is located a fusible protector. This fusible protector is preferably of the kind shown in Fig. 12 and is as follows: The contact-wire It", located coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the protector, is composed of a fusible alloy. This alloy is to be so mixed as that it shall melt at any desired temperature from 120o to SOOo Fahrenheit. One end of this alloy G is connected to that end of the wire F which is next to the rod or plate C6, and the other end of the alloy is connected to that end of the wire F which conducts the electric current to the exchange.

Around this fusible alloy wire G and in close contact therewith is a suitable flux G2, as borax. This flux is surrounded by a porous layer of a suitable substance, such as asbestus G3 or other equivalent porous material which will not conduct heat and is a non-conductor of electricity.

In order to allow the oscillation of the armature B, a recess or slot K is formed in the foundation K.

For the purpose of prevcn ting the armature B, after it has been drawn to the magnet A, from leaving the magnet and so re-establishing the circuit before such circuit has been re-established by human agency I provide a suitable device. One form of such device is as follows: L is a shank secured to the bottom of the foundation-piece K. This shank L carries the horizontally-extended arm L', and the free end of this arm L is provided with a catch L2, inclined or tapering toward its free end. The arm L is made of an elastic material, so that as the portion B of the armature is advanced toward and impinges against the inclined portion of the free end of the latch the said arm L will yield and allow the said extension or rod B to pass the hook of the latch. The latch L2 then being returned to its rst position, the hook of the latch will prevent the rod from being swung back again to its first position.

Having thus fully described the function IOO IIO

proper distance will cause the block B6 to be y withdrawn from the free end of the spring C.

. Likewise theupper spring C is adjustable upon thatblock C5 which is in direct connection with the extension E of the armature. This lastnamed adjustment is made with reference to the index-finger I I and the spring-index H. From the construction of the apparatus it will be evident that as the armature B approaches the magnet A the index-fingei-I I', having a tendency to move downward as well as toward the non-conducting block II', will bear harder and harder upon the spring H as the armature B approaches the magnet A. This increase of pressure wil-l also be still further augmented by the upward inclination toward the block H' of the spring-index H. If the end C' of the spring C is set far over the block C5, as shown in Fig. l, the index- Afinger I will have to move a longer distance upon the spring-index I-I before the block C5 is moved out of contact with the spring` C. When the spring C has been moved farther to the right, so that the free end C' of the spring C rests upon the block B7, as shown in Fig. 8, then obviously a less movement of the armature B toward the magnet will suffice to withdraw the block C5 from contact with the spring C. Hence when the spring C has been adjustedA far to the left, as shown in Fig.

l, a much greater degree of electrical force' must be present in the current passing through wire B7 and through the magnet and thence to the exchange to cause the armature to move the spring-contact C out of contact with the block Bi than when. the upper spring C is set farther to the right. After the lower spring C and the upper spring C have been properly set the desired amount of current for the operation of the telephone or other device to be operated by said currentis passed through the contact-wire B7 to the exchange. This current passes through the wire B7, thence through the adjacent contactblock BG, thence through the adjacent contact spring Cv, thence through the block C5, thence through the rod or plate C, thence through the wire I), thence through the magnet A, thence through the upper portion of the extension E of the armature, thence through the upper contact-block C7', thence through the upper spring-contact C, thence through the block or piece C5, thence through the rod or plate C7, thence through the wire F, through the fusible protector G', and thence through the remaining portion of the wire F to the exchange. The electrical current passing through said circuit will often be suddenly and enormously increased in power. This sudden increase of current may arise from a large number of different causes. Among these causes may be mentioned a thunder-storml coming in contact with the exposed portion of the wire B7. So, also, a wire carrying a powerful electric current and crossing the wire B7 may, by the sagging of one or the other of the wires, as the case may be, bring the wire B7 and the other wires into electrical contact. So, also, the close juxtaposition of two wires-viz., the wire B7 and another wire carrying a powerful current-may cause the electric current on B7 to be enormously increased in power. Whenever for any reason the electric current inl passing over wire VB7 is greatly increased beyond its normal power, the electro-.magnet A, being rendered more highly attractive, will vovercome the resistance of the spring-contact G and the index-finger I and will draw the armature B toward itself. As soon as the armature B moves toward the core A' of the magnet it will move the upper contact-block B6 from under the upper spring C and the lower contact-block BG from under its adjacent spring-contact C. Each spring C as soon as it leaves its adjacent contact-block B will rapidly move down and far away fromthe said contact-block B6 and assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. At the same time that the springs C C arethrown out of contact with their respective adjacent contact-blocks B7, or within an inappreciable moment of time following, the armature B has caused the contact-blockB6 to come into contact with the contact-block B70. Atoo-powerful electric current going over wire B7 is thus instantly diverted from the exchange and passes into the ground. In this way the exchange or equivalent device to which the line F conducts the electric current is protected from the dangerous and injurious effects of the too-powerful current. As a further pro- IOO tection against this too powerful current iiowing from wire B7 reaching the exchange, the fusible protector C' is present. As the too-powerful current passes through the alloy wire G', itheats the same, and, in connection with the flux G2, said wire is instantly melted, and, passing in small particles into the interstices of the asbestus G3, its continuity is entirely destroyed. The exterior of this fusible protector is preferably composed of a fabric G, preferably of some water-proof material. One desired description of material for this purpose is greased paper forming an envelope or covering, which prevents theingress of moisture to the protector and at the same time is easily destroyed. In this way the electrical communication between the exchange and the wire B7 is cut off. When the armature B has reached the core A', the extension B' below the foundation K has passed the head L2-of the latch and is thereby securely locked thereto. Hence the armature B cannot thereafter leave the magnet Aor move the block B9 until the operator intentionally releases the latch L. c

Suitable means for audibly indicating the fact that the armature B has approached the IIO magnet A and cut off the electric current, as aforementioned, between the wires B7 and the wire F may be employed. One description of such means is as follows: Upon the under side of the foundation K is a lever M, pivotally fulcrumed at M to the foundation K. One end of this lever extends across the slot Knear the extension l. N is a contact located upon the lower side of the foundation K and connected to the wire N', in turn connected to the alarm-bell N2, duly circuited in any of the well-known modes. The contact N is within reach of the lever M when the latter is swung toward it. lVhen the armature B is drawn toward the magnet A and cuts oill the electrical communication between the wire B7 and the wire F, the extension B', ineving in the slot K', moves the lever with it and forces the other end of the lever M against the contact N. This lever M will thus be brought into contact Vwith the block N, and the alarm-bell N2 will then be rung, thereby notifying` the operator that the aforenamed electrical communication between the wire BT and the wire F is cutoff. Suitable means may also be employed to record the intensity of the current which causes the armature B to break the electrical communication between the wire BT and the wire F and for re` cording the time in which said breaking of the communication occurred. One description of such means is shown in Fig. 6 and is as follows: To the extension B below the foundation K is rigidly connected a straight arm P, having an upright arm P rigidly connected thereto. This arm P has in turn another long arm or linger P2 rigidly connected to it. This finger P2 is pivoted at P3 upon the supporting-rod P4, in turn supported by the suitable foundation P5. The free end of this finger P2 bears against the cylinder P7. This cylinder Plis caused to revolve by clockwork. The point P may be provided with a pen lilled with ink, the cylinder PT being cov ered with paper. The point P6 of the lever P2 may be simply a point and the cylinder P7 be coated with a suitable coating. A very cheap and advantageous coating is lampblack. The cylinder may be coated with lamp-black in a few moments. The point P( will then, upon the cutting offof the current by the armature B approaching magnet A, mark upon the cylinder P7 a line indicating the breaking of the circuit aforementioned, and the time when the said break occurred can be easily computed. A still simpler form of such a device for recording the break of the electric current is shown in Fig. 7, where the extension B of the armature is rigidly connected atPSto theiinger P2, having an index end Pi. The latter bears upon the rotating sleeve PT. When the armaiure B approaches the magnet A and breaks the circuit, as aforementioned, the point P of the linger P2 will register on the revolving cylinder P7 the time when the said break occurred. To enable this operation to be effectuated, the peripheral surface of the cylinder should by proper marks be subdivided, the spaces between the main marks representing hours and the sub-spaces representing minutes. The cylinder is rotated by clock-work or other suitable mechanism at such a rate and in such a position that at a certain hour and minute the space representing that time will be in such a position that should the finger P2 be then operated it will receive the mark made by the said ringer. lVhen the linger is operated,that space on the cylinder in which the mark made by the registering-finger P2 is found will then indicate the time when the circuit was broken.

Another description of device for adjusting the amount of resistance that the armature l; shall experience when drawn toward the magnet A and for recording the amount of said resistance the armature B shall encounter when the said armature 13 shall be able to break the circuit is shown in Fig. 4 and is substantially as follows: The upper end of the extension B is rigidly connected to an arm S, pivotally swung and supported at S. That end of the rod S which is opposite to where the extension E is attached is rigidly connected to the vertical arm S2. Upon the lower end of this arm is attached block C5, adjusted upon said arm S2 by a setscrew OT. A bar O, preferably elastic, is connected to the said block C5, preferably in the manner hereinbefore described, and bears upon the side of the rod S2. Upon the top of the block O5 rests a spring S3, pivotally connected at Sl to a stationary right-angled cylinder S5. On the lowerhorizontal part of this scale is marked a set of divisions indicating the different degrees of resistance at which the device is adj usted to make the armature B move toward the magnet A. A set-screw S( passes through the spring S2 and is screwed into the stationary arm ST. The tightening' of the set-screw S lincreases the pressure of the spring upon the block C and 'also increases the inclination ot' the springin relation to the block C5. The lower end of the arln S2 is provided with an index arrow or pointer SS, the point of which is in proximity to the index-dial on the scale. lVhen a toopowerful current passes through the line lBT and through the magnet A, the armature will be drawn toward the magnet. When the power of this current becomes such that it is a dangerous one for the purposes for which it is used, the spring S3 is so set by a proper adjustment that the armature B shall overcome the resistance of the sp1-in g S2. The armature will move the lower portion of the rod or bar S2 toward the left and thereby force the block C and contact-spring S away from and out of contact with the bar BG. The latch L L being in Icontact with the ground wire B, the electrical current will thereby be shnnted or diverted from the exchange into the ground B12.

In Fig. 2 the resistant index-spring H and a sliding IOO IIO

index-finger I' are omitted, as are also the lground-wire 'l connected to the latch L, so

that when the extension B' passes the head 'of the latch L and comes into contact with the Spring portion L' ofv the latch the latter shall act as a conductor to carry the electricity into the ground in cases where by accident or for any reason the contact B9 fails to touch .B10 and approach sufficiently close to the latter to properly conduct the electrical current through the wire B11 to the ground.

In Fig. 3 the branch wire B13 is connected to the wire B1. The former is in turn connected to the contact B11, supported on the non-conducting block H' or other suitable support. The index-finger I carries a contact 315, so located that when the armature B moves the fingerI along the spring-index H the contact B15 approaches contact B11 and touches 'the latter.

.drawn toward the magnet A by the too pow- In this way as the armature B is v erful current the current between the spring C and block B1S is broken and the contact between the parts B11 and B15 is accomplished,

and the current passing through' wire B7 is thereby diverted from the exchange and part of the current passes through the magnet A and part passes throughthe branch wire B13, thence through theblocl; B11, and block B15, and index-finger I, and armature E B B', contact B9 B10, and ground-wire B11 to the ground B12.

In Fig. 5 is shown a mode of breaking the contact between the wire B1 and the wire F.

These means consist of a stationary contact C5. yTo the upper end ot' the armature is connected a contact B11. One end of the wire which passesv through the magnet is connected to the armature E B. The lower end of the armature is pivoted at B2 to the foundation K. When the current through B7 becomes too powerful, the increased attraction of the magnet A draws the armature B toward it and separates the contact B6 from the v stationary Contact C5, thereby breaking the current passing to the exchange.

This description of device is not as desirable as those others of my invention hereinbefore described, whereby the electrical current is not only eut off from the wire F, but also is conducted to the ground or other suitable locality where it can do no harm. The danger from any accident which might occur from the wire B7 having a too powerful current not conducted to the ground is in the cases where it is thus conducted to the ground obviated by diverting it into the ground.

Vhat I claim as new and of my invention,

and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*- l. The contact-current uniting and breaking device consisting of the contact B6, spring C, having contact end portion C' adapted to rest on contact B6 and having its upper end curved around and fixed to the stationary piece C4, the spring being formed, as described, to bear upon the contact B11-and when drawn away therefrom to assume a position nearly at right angles to its first position, the free end of the spring being not only out of connection with the opposite pole, but also far below the line of contact with said pole and out of position for recontact to be made therewith until directly lifted by hand and placed upon the contact-piece B6, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The elastic spring C2, curved and connected to piece C1, the bed or supporting part of the latter being adjustable on the connecting rod or plate C1, and screw C'7 for securing the said bed in position on the plate, and contact B11, upon which the free end portion of the spring C is adapted to rest, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The graduated incline H, and the indexiinger I, bearing thereon, and armature B, attached to said index-finger, and electric magnet A, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

Li. Thegraduated spring-incline H, and the index-finger I, bearing thereon, and armature B B', pivoted at B2 and being connected above to finger I. substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The magnet A, armature B, having extension B', pivoted at B2, and extension E, connected to the rod-finger I, and contact BG, and incline H, upon which said fingerl bears, and the adjustable spring-contact C, bearing at its free end on contact B11, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The magnet A, armature B, having ex tension B', pivoted at B2, and extension E, connected' to the rod-finger I, and contact B6, and incline II, upon which said finger bears, and the adjustable spring-contact C, bearing at its free end on contact B11, the normal electrical supply current passing through the magnet and thence through the extension E, contact C, and line F, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. The magnet A, armature B, carrying the block B, index-iinger I, and the index inclined plate H, over which the index-inger I passes, and contact-block B6, carried by the armature simultaneously with the movement of the index-finger, and spring C, and connecting-piece C( in the electrical circuit and upon which the spring C is adjustable to and from the block B11, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

S. The magnet A, armature B, carrying the block B11, index-finger I, and the index inclined plate I-I, over which the index-finger I IOO IZO

passes, and contact-block L carried by the armature simultaneously with the movement of the index-finger, and spring C, and connecting-piece CG in the electrical circuit and upon which the spring C is adjustable to and l rom the block B, and the latchL L2, adapted to hold an extension of the armature when the latter is in contact with the magnet and the block B6 is out of contact with the spring C, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. The magnet A, armature B, carrying the block BG, index-finger l, provided with flange 1, and the index inclined plate ll', over which theindex-fingerl, having flange?, passes, and contact-block B6, carried by the armature simultaneously with the movement of the index-finger, and spring C, and connecting piece C6 in the electrical circuit and upon which the spring C is adjustable to and from the block B, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

l0. The magnet A, armature B, having upper extension E in contact with the spring'- contact C, the latter being in contact with the line F, and extension B', pivoted at B2 and carrying swinging contact B2 and permanent contact B10, connected to shunting-Wire B, and latch L for locking the armature in position after said armature has approached the magnet, a ground-wire L4 being connected to the latch, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

1l. The fusible protector consisting of the alloy Wire G flux G2, and porous material G2, compacted, substantially as and for the purposes specified. A

l2. rlhe fusible protector consisting of the alloy Wire G', flux G2, and porous material G2,

compacted, and Water-proof envelope G", substantially as and for the purposes specified. 3. The magnet A, armature B, having extension E, carrying contact B, and linger I, engaging graduated spring-incline H, springcontact C, adjustable on rod C6 and touching contact B, the rod C, connected to wire F, and the fusible protector located between and connected to adjacent ends of the Wire F, the armature B, having extension B', pivoted at B2 and carrying the non-conducting block B5, supporting contact B6, connected to the elec- Atrical supply wire B2, and the rod BS, carryin contact B9, contact BO, opposite to Bg and connected toground-wire B, spring-contact C, at one end resting onthe last-named contact B6 and at the other end fixed to the block C, adjustable on the rod C, the latter connected to Wire D, connected to one end of the wire of the inagnetA, the other end of the Wire of the magnet being connected to the extension E, and latch L for locking the armature in position after it has approached the magnet, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

ll. In a device for breaking the circuit, the magnet A, reciprocating armature B, rotatable cylinder P7, lever connected to the armature and pivoted at B2, and the index-arm, linger P2, pivoted at PS to the lever B', the longitudinal axis of the linger being in a plane substantially parallel to the plane passing through the axis of the recording-cylinder, and the recording-cylinder P7, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JOHN 13. MURPHY. Attest:

CHAs. L. BocLn, K. SMITH. 

